قراءة كتاب The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05
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The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05
said of a Roman emperor, "Multi diutius imperium tenuerunt; nemo fortius reliquit."
To this retirement of your lordship, I wish I could bring a better entertainment than this play; which, though it succeeded on the stage, will scarcely bear a serious perusal; it being contrived and written in a month, the subject barren, the persons low, and the writing not heightened with many laboured scenes. The consideration of these defects ought to have prescribed more modesty to the author, than to have presented it to that person in the world for whom he has the greatest honour, and of whose patronage the best of his endeavours had been unworthy: But I had not satisfied myself in staying longer, and could never have paid the debt with a much better play. As it is, the meanness of it will shew; at least, that I pretend not by it to make any manner of return for your favours; and that I only give you a new occasion of exercising your goodness to me, in pardoning the failings and imperfections of,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's
Most humble, most obliged,
Most obedient servant,
John Dryden.
Footnotes:
- Sir Thomas Clifford, just then created Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, and appointed Lord High Treasurer, was one of the six ministers, the initials of whose names furnished the word Cabal, by which their junto was distinguished. He was the most virtuous and honest of the junto, but a Catholic; and, what was then synonymous, a warm advocate for arbitrary power. He is said to have won his promotion by advising the desperate measure of shutting the Exchequer in 1671, the hint of which he is said to have stolen from Shaftesbury. This piece may have been undertaken by his command; for, even at the very time of the triple alliance, he is reported to have said, "For all this, we must have another Dutch war." Upon the defection of Lord Shaftesbury from the court party, and the passing of the test act, Lord Clifford resigned his office, retired to the country, and died in September 1673, shortly after receiving this dedication.
- In this case, Dryden's praise, which did not always occur, survived the temporary occasion. Even in a little satirical effusion, he tells us,
Clifford was fierce and brave.
Clifford had been comptroller and treasurer of the household, and one of the commissioners of the treasury; he had served in the Dutch wars.
- Alluding to Lord Clifford's resignation of an office he could not hold without a change of religion.
PROLOGUE.
This poem was written as far back as 1662, and was then termed a Satire against the Dutch.
As needy gallants in the scriveners' hands,
Court the rich knave that gripes their mortgaged lands,
The first fat buck of all the season's sent,
And keeper takes no fee in compliment:
The dotage of some Englishmen is such
To fawn on those who ruin them—the Dutch.
They shall have all, rather than make a war
With those who of the same religion are.
The Straits, the Guinea trade, the herrings too,
Nay, to keep friendship, they shall pickle you.
Some are resolved not to find out the cheat,
But, cuckold like, love him who does the feat:
What injuries soe'er upon us fall,
Yet, still, The same religion, answers all:
Religion wheedled you to civil war,
Drew English blood, and Dutchmen's now would spare:
Be gulled no longer, for you'll find it true,
They have no more religion, faith—than you;
Interest's the god they worship in their state;
And you, I take it, have not much of that.
Well, monarchies may own religion's name,
But states are atheists in their very frame.
They share a sin, and such proportions fall,
That, like a stink, 'tis nothing to them all.
How they love England, you shall see this day;
No map shews Holland truer than our play:
Their pictures and inscriptions well we know[1];
We may be bold one medal sure to show.
View then their falsehoods, rapine, cruelty;
And think what once they were, they still would be:
But hope not either language, plot, or art;
'Twas writ in haste, but with an English heart:
And least hope wit; in Dutchmen that would be
As much improper, as would honesty.
Footnote:
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
Captain Gabriel Towerson.
| Mr Beamont, Mr Collins, |
} } |
English Merchants, his Friends. |
Captain Middleton, an English Sea Captain.
Perez, a Spanish Captain.
Harman Senior, Governor of Amboyna.
The Fiscal.
Harman Junior, Son to the Governor.
Van Herring, a Dutch Merchant.
Isabinda, betrothed to Towerson, an Indian Lady.
Julia, Wife to Perez.
An English Woman.
Page to Towerson.
A Skipper.
Two Dutch Merchants.
SCENE—Amboyna.
AMBOYNA.
ACT I.
SCENE I.—A Castle on the Sea.
Enter Harman Senior, the Governor, the Fiscal, and Van Herring: Guards.
Fisc. A happy day to our noble governor.
Har. Morrow, Fiscal.
Van Her. Did the last ships, which came from Holland to these parts, bring us no news of moment?
Fisc. Yes, the best that ever came into Amboyna, since we set footing here; I mean as to our interest.
Har. I wonder much my letters then gave me so short accounts; they only said the Orange party was grown strong again, since Barnevelt had suffered.
Van Her. Mine inform me farther, the price of pepper, and of other spices, was raised of late in Europe.
Har. I wish that news may hold; but much suspect it, while the English maintain their factories among us in Amboyna, or in the neighbouring plantations of Seran.
Fisc. Still I have news that tickles me within; ha, ha, ha! I'faith it does, and will do you, and all our countrymen.
Har. Pr'ythee do not torture us, but tell it.
Van Her. Whence comes this news?
Fisc. From England.